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USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
With 'Never Flinch', Stephen King proves (again) he's scary good at mystery too
With 'Never Flinch', Stephen King proves (again) he's scary good at mystery too Show Caption Hide Caption 'The Life of Chuck': Tom Hiddleston headlines Stephen King movie Based on a Stephen King novella, "The Life of Chuck" chronicles the life of accountant Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) in three acts told in reverse. Imagine Jimi Hendrix also being a tuba virtuoso, or Andy Warhol also excelling on an Etch-A-Sketch. The artistic greats, the geniuses, are often really, really good at one thing. Then there's Stephen King. For decades, his horror stories – on the page and on the screen – have scared the bejeezus out of generations of people. (One of the things that defines Gen X is the fact many of us read his stuff earlier in our pop-culture lives than our parents would have preferred.) From 'It' and 'The Stand' to 'Carrie' and 'The Shining,' he's influenced an entire genre of entertainment more than anybody. Then, somewhat unexpectedly, King wrote a hard-boiled detective novel – entering the sleuthing space of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and more recently Michael Connelly. Over the past decade, from 2014's 'Mr. Mercedes' to his latest riveting novel 'Never Flinch' (★★★½ stars; Scribner; 448 pages), the master of horror has proven to be scarily good at the mystery thriller, too. So much so it's kind of unfair, honestly. King hasn't done it alone. He's found an inspirational muse in Holly Gibney. First a supporting player in the 'Mr. Mercedes' trilogy, Holly has become King's go-to recurring character and, in a bibliography filled mostly with iconic villains, one of his greatest heroes. Mixing lovable quirks – she calls things she doesn't like 'poopy' – with a relatable cadre of issues, she's a private investigator with a crowd-pleasing nature and a nose uncannily adept for sussing out a bad guy. Sometimes, like in 'Never Flinch,' multiple culprits. In the new book, Holly is hired as a bodyguard by rabble-rousing celebrity women's rights activist Kate McKay when her lecture tour is threatened by an increasingly violent mystery assailant. Holly's on that case and also is helping her police detective pal Izzy Jaynes with a serial killer on a revenge mission, who, after the death of a wrongfully convicted man, promises to 'kill 13 innocents and one guilty.' With two absorbing criminal plot lines, King juggles one whodunit and a pair of character studies while deftly and delightfully getting into the heads of the sinners and saints populating the book. The author also successfully continues to build out the world of fictional Buckeye City, Holly's Midwestern town that's getting to be as infamous as Castle Rock or Derry. Holly herself debuted as a side character in 'Mr. Mercedes,' which pitted aging cop Bill Hodges against homicidal ice cream man Brady Hartsfield (aka the Mercedes Killer), and she inherited their Finders Keepers detective agency after Bill's death in trilogy closer 'End of Watch.' From those books sprang Jerome and Barbara Robinson, the young sibling duo who continue to be Holly's closest allies in 'Never Flinch.' Bill's old partner Pete Huntley stops in for a spell every so often – not to mention Bill's presence that still haunts these stories – and Izzy takes a more central role in King's growing crime-solving universe after appearing in 2023's 'Holly.' Jerome even puts their relationship in a meta literary context: 'Holly's Sherlock Holmes and Izzy's Inspector Lestrade!' (For the record, Izzy's probably got a better fastball than that old Scotland Yarder.) King clearly loves writing Holly and her entourage – it's apparent not only from the ink spilled on her adventures but the way she's grown over each case and every book. Why she deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the writer's other memorable protagonists, like Roland Deschain of the 'Dark Tower' books or the Losers' Club in 'It,' is because Holly continues to blossom as a human being. She suffers from low confidence and constantly wrestles with the anxiety caused by her late mom, yet every mystery works to build up her fortitude and spirit, from that face-changing Chet Ondowsky in the title novella of the 2020 collection 'If It Bleeds' to the two elderly married psychos of 'Holly.' But as Holly improves herself, so does King himself. A large swatch of his Constant Readers would probably rather him just get back to the scary stuff already. The man still does a horror tale like no other – he's not the king for nothing. What's different and so enjoyable about reading his Holly stories, other than how he weaves his signature folksiness and macabre sensibilities with modern themes like abortion rights and evangelical extremism, is that King seems to be having fun testing his own imagination and experimenting with different ways to tell a detective yarn. That landscape is rife with so many colorful personalities – Sherlock, Miss Marple and Sam Spade of an old-school persuasion, Jack Reacher, Harry Bosch and Harry Hole from a more modern place. To not consider Holly Gibney a vital part of that crew at this point would be pretty poopy.
Spectator
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
A psychopath on the loose: Never Flinch, by Stephen King, reviewed
Stephen King, 77, is a writer of towering brilliance whose fiction appeals to a reading public both popular and serious. His 60th novel, Never Flinch, unfolds in Buckeye City, Ohio, where a serial murderer is on the loose under the alias of Bill Wilson – the name of the man who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous. Wilson has sworn to kill 14 people in revenge for the death of a friend and former alcoholic who was framed and convicted for child pornography offences. The plot is steeped in AA lore ('Honesty in all our affairs') and an awareness of the deleterious effects of drinking to excess. It's no secret that King is himself a recovering alcoholic. His scariest novels – Carrie, The Stand, The Shining – were written in the mid-1970s when his life was dangerously tipped by booze. Never Flinch, a superior crime thriller, opens a window on to the world of smalltown American AA meetings and the vexing devil of substance abuse among the Ohioan poor. In pages of heart-pounding suspense Wilson targets various innocent people, among them even AA old-timers he has known (one of whom is called Big Book Mike for his habit of quoting verbatim from the AA handbook). Parallel to this is an equally disturbing campaign of violence against a feminist activist called Kate McKay, whose bookshop signings attract unwanted crowds of angry white men disgruntled by all things woke. The private investigator Holly Gibney, who made her debut in King's 2014 novel Mr Mercedes, offers to help the Buckeye City Police bring the AA killer to book and lend McKay the bodyguard protection she demands.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Look: 'Aquaman' alum Amber Heard announces birth of twins
May 12 (UPI) -- Aquaman and The Stand actress Amber Heard announced on Instagram Sunday that she has welcomed twins into her family. "Mother's Day 2025 will be one I'll never forget. This year I am elated beyond words to celebrate the completion of the family I've strived to build for years. Today I officially share the news that I welcomed twins into the Heard gang. My daughter Agnes and my son Ocean are keeping my hands (and my heart) full," Heard, 39, posted alongside a photo of three sets of llttle feet. "When I had my first baby girl Oonagh four years ago, my world changed forever. I thought I couldn't possibly burst with more joy. Well, now I am bursting times three!!! Becoming a mother by myself and on my own terms despite my own fertility challenges has been the most humbling experience of my life," she added. "I am eternally grateful that I was able to choose this responsibly and thoughtfully. To all the moms, wherever you are today and however you got here, my dream family and I are celebrating with you." Heard has been staying out of the spotlight in Spain since the televised 2022 court battle that saw her and her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp, accusing each other of domestic abuse and defamation. Heard and Depp co-starred in the 2011 film, The Rum Diary, and were married 2015-17.
News18
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Amber Heard's Net Worth Post-Trial: Where She Stands Now
Last Updated: The Aquaman actress has been living a quiet life in Spain, away from the limelight, ever since she lost the defamation case against her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp. Amber Heard is back in the spotlight as she has embraced motherhood for the second time. Returning to Instagram after more than a year, the 39-year-old actress announced the arrival of her twins, Agnes and Ocean, on Mother's Day 2025. She shared the heartwarming news with a photo of the newborns' tiny feet, accompanied by a touching note about how her 'dream family" is now complete. The Aquaman actress has been living a quiet life in Spain, away from the limelight, ever since she lost the defamation case against her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp. The former couple's relationship, separation and courtroom drama drew massive global attention and deeply impacted both their lives. As a result of the legal battles, Amber's net worth also saw a significant decline. During the trial of the defamation case, evidence revealed that Amber earned about $10 million in pre-tax income between 2013 and 2019. This included earnings from her projects, like the film Aquaman, for which she reportedly received $1 million and its sequel, with a deal of $2 million. She also earned around $200,000 per episode for the miniseries The Stand and had an endorsement deal of $1.625 million with L'Oreal. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Amber's net worth stood at $5,00,000 as of April 2025. Her net worth was expected to increase to $1 million by 2024, marking a significant decrease from her multi-million-dollar net worth just a decade back. How Much Did Amber Heard Pay To Her Ex-Husband Johnny Depp? Amber and Johnny's legal troubles began in 2016, just a year after they got married. The actress accused her former husband of domestic violence and filed for a restraining order against him. Later, Johnny sued The Sun newspaper for calling him a 'wifebeater", but he lost that case. Then, in 2019, the Pirates of the Caribbean Sea actor filed a $50 million defamation case against Amber over an op-ed she wrote in 2018 in The Washington Post. She countersued him for $100 million, claiming that Johnny's lawyer defamed her by calling her allegations a 'hoax." The courtroom battle, held in Virginia between April and June 2022, was streamed online, drawing reactions from people all over the world. The court ultimately ruled in favour of Johnny, awarding him a total of $15 million for the damages, which was to be paid by Amber. Later, the amount was reduced to $3,50,000 due to state law. Additionally, the actress also won $2 million as compensatory damages for her countersuit. In December 2022, Amber announced through her Instagram account that she agreed to the reduced settlement to end the case once and for all. She mentioned in her post that it was not an act of giving up but a necessary step to protect her overall well-being. First Published:
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Amber Heard Net Worth: What's the ‘Aquaman' actress' net worth after the Depp v Heard trial?
Amber Heard is re-discovering herself post the Depp v Heard trial, and this year – it's through motherhood. The 'Aquaman' actress took to social media to share her joy on this Mother's Day and revealed that she had welcomed twins, a daughter named Agnes and a son named Ocean. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She took to Instagram and penned a heartfelt post accompanied by a picture of the little ones' feet, and wrote, "This year I am elated beyond words to celebrate the completion of the family I've strived to build for years. Today I officially share the news that I welcomed twins into the Heard gang. My daughter Agnes and my son Ocean are keeping my hands (and my heart) full." Amber, who became a mom for the first time in mid-2021 and announced her daughter Oonagh's arrival via surrogacy in an Instagram upload, recently reflected that she had chosen motherhood "responsibly and thoughtfully" and "couldn't burst with more joy." Amber wrote, "When I had my first baby girl Oonagh four years ago, my world changed forever. I thought I couldn't possibly burst with more joy. Well, now I am bursting times three!!! Becoming a mother by myself and on my own terms despite my own fertility challenges has been the most humbling experience of my life. I am eternally grateful that I was able to choose this responsibly and thoughtfully." Where is Amber Heard now? Amber left Hollywood and moved to Spain after the extremely public and high-profile legal battles with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. What is Amber Heard's net worth? During the $50 million defamation case against Johnny Depp, evidence disclosed particular information about Amber Heard's net worth. The actress is said to have earned a total of $10 million in pre-tax income from 2013 to 2019, which came from various sources including movie contracts (for instance, she received $1 million for her role in the first Aquaman film and has a guaranteed $2 million for the upcoming sequel), television roles (she earned $200,000 per episode for the miniseries The Stand), and beauty endorsements (which included a $1.625 million contract with L'Oreal over two years), among others. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Nevertheless, Heard's estimated net worth in 2023 was significantly lower than that multi-million-dollar figure, reportedly sitting at $500,000. In 2024, her net worth was expected to reach $1 million, marking a substantial drop from her previous net worth of $11 million. How much did Amber Heard have to pay Johnny Depp? Following the Depp v. Heard case, Amber Heard was ordered to pay her husband a $1 million settlement, which was reportedly covered by her insurance company. When the couple first split in 2016, Heard accused Depp of domestic violence and filed a restraining order against the actor. Depp later sued The Sun and its parent publisher for libel for calling him a "wifebeater," which he lost, and the Pirates of the Caribbean star was denied an appeal in the case. Depp then sued Heard for $50 million for defamation stemming from a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she never names Depp but describes the public consequences she faced as a survivor of alleged sexual violence. Heard countersued for $100 million, alleging that Depp's lawyer defamed her when he said her domestic violence allegations were a "hoax." After six weeks of testimony, a Virginia jury ruled in June 2022 in favor of Depp, awarding the actor $10 million in compensatory damages, as well as $5 million in punitive damages to be paid by Heard, for a total of $15 million. (Those punitive damages were reduced to $350,000 by Judge Penney Azcarate in compliance with Virginia law.) The jury also ordered Depp to pay Heard $2 million in compensatory damages. However, in December 2022, following several appeals by both Heard and Depp, the actress announced on Instagram that she had agreed to a much-reduced settlement to end the Depp v. Heard case once and for all. Amber declared her decision on social media, writing, "After a great deal of deliberation, I have made a very difficult decision to settle the defamation case brought against me by my ex-husband in Virginia.' She added: "This is not an act of concession." She continued, "I exhausted almost all my resources in advance of and during a trial in which I was subject to a courtroom in which abundant, direct evidence that corroborated my testimony was excluded and in which popularity and power mattered more than reason and due process. In the interim I was exposed to a type of humiliation that I simply cannot re-live." She went on, "For too many years I have been caged in an arduous and expensive legal process, which has shown itself unable to protect me and my right to free speech. I cannot afford to risk an impossible bill—one that is not just financial but also psychological, physical and emotional. Women shouldn't have to face abuse or bankruptcy for speaking her truth, but unfortunately it is not uncommon." Who is Amber Heard dating now? Amber Heard is not publicly dating anyone at the moment. She was last romantically linked to filmmaker Bianci Butti in 2020. Before the 2020 romance, Heard was involved with Tesla founder Elon Musk, art dealer Vito Schnabel, and director Andrés Muschietti. Johnny Depp case: Now, Amber Heard's insurance company refuses to cover her damages owing to 'wilful' defamation
